With unofficial results in for 4th District GOP race, Lee Bright is headed for a runoff. A recount may be needed to officially determine his opponent. Williams Timmons was unofficially second and Dan Hamilton was third, but they finished with 1 percent of each other.

Greenville Mayor Knox White is at a campaign party for John Warren, a Republican candidate for governor. White said this about the Greenville business: “I’ve always felt the biggest role of the governor is to bring new business to South Carolina, and he’s perfect for that.”

The Greenville News will host candidate forums ahead of the Democratic and Republican runoff elections on June 26.

If necessary, the Democratic candidate forum will be held from 7-8 p.m. Wednesday, June 20 in the Greenville News community room. The Republican candidate forum will be from 7-8 p.m. Thursday, June 21 at the same location. The Greenville News offices are located at 32 E. Broad Street in downtown Greenville.

7 p.m.

Polls are closed in South Carolina. Stay tuned to GreenvilleOnline.com for updates throughout the night.

This evening, primary results will start pouring in throughout Upstate South Carolina. Candidates will be gathering in various locations along with their friends, family and supporters. Here's a list of where some candidates will be this evening.

South Carolina GOP candidate for governor John Warren meets with supporters at his watch party after primary election results came in at the Westin Poinsett on Tuesday, June 12, 2018. JOSH MORGAN/Staff

A projection of South Carolina governor election results shines on GOP John Warren's back as he meets with supporters at his watch party at the Westin Poinsett on Tuesday, June 12, 2018. JOSH MORGAN/Staff

South Carolina GOP candidate for governor John Warren meets with supporters at his watch party after primary election results came in at the Westin Poinsett on Tuesday, June 12, 2018. JOSH MORGAN/Staff

Lee Bright, left, shakes hands with Jame Aiken in Greenville, S.C. on Tuesday, June 12, 2018 after placing first in the Republican South Carolina 4th Congressional District primary. BART BOATWRIGHT/Staff

Leah Rollins explains how primaries work to her sons JT, 10, and Paden, 7, as results begin to update during John Warren's primary watch party at the Westin Poinsett on Tuesday, June 12, 2018. JOSH MORGAN/Staff

Lee Bright, center, poses for a photo with Somer Flowers, left, and Nicole Mallozzi in Greenville, S.C. on Tuesday, June 12, 2018 after placing first in the Republican South Carolina 4th Congressional District primary. BART BOATWRIGHT/Staff

Lt. Gov. Kevin Bryant, left, and Ann Bryant talk at the Corner Bagel Shop about winning the Hopewell Precinct in Anderson, as results started coming in for state primaries in Anderson on Tuesday, June 12, 2018. Ken Ruinard / Staff

Melissa Bernardi votes in the primary elections at the West End Community Development Center in Greenville on Tuesday, June 12, 2018. "I had a stroke two weeks ago, so I'm happy to be here voting," she said. LAUREN PETRACCA/STAFF

John Warren, Republican candidate for governor, holds his two-year-old son, Stevie, as he signs in to vote in the primary elections at St. Matthew United Methodist Church in Greenville on Tuesday, June 12, 2018. LAUREN PETRACCA/STAFF

John Warren, Republican candidate for governor, holds his two-year-old son, Stevie, as he votes in the primary elections at St. Matthew United Methodist Church in Greenville on Tuesday, June 12, 2018. LAUREN PETRACCA/STAFF

John Warren campaign aide Matt Thomas and supporter Jill Holt watch as poll results begin to trickle in during Warren's primary watch party at the Westin Poinsett on Tuesday, June 12, 2018. JOSH MORGAN/Staff

Amanda Sox sits 200 feet away from the entrance of Taylors Elementary to collect signatures for a petition to allow Lucas Marchant to be on the ballot in November for 13th circuit solicitor on Tuesday, June 12, 2018. LAUREN PETRACCA/STAFF

John Warren, Republican candidate for governor, holds his two-year-old son, Stevie, as he votes in the primary elections at St. Matthew United Methodist Church in Greenville on Tuesday, June 12, 2018. LAUREN PETRACCA/STAFF

John Warren, Republican candidate for governor, puts an "I Voted" sticker on his two-year-old son, Stevie, after voting in the primary elections at St. Matthew United Methodist Church in Greenville on Tuesday, June 12, 2018. LAUREN PETRACCA/STAFF

Ebony Austin with her sons Eli, 11, and L.J., 9, voted at East North Street Academy. So I’m looking for some changes, I’m looking for someone who is going to come in with some fresh ideas and do some things for the people and really help make our state as great as it really is.” Lillia Callum-Penso/STAFF

Nancy Griffeth voted in the Democrat Primary at East North Street Academy.
“I vote in every single election because it’s so important. You cannot sit back later and say oh look at the mess we’re in if you did not get out and cast a vote." Lillia Callum-Penso/STAFF

Donald Dietz carries a folded slip of paper with the names of candidates for whom he voted at the Devenger Road Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, June 12, 2018. All would be new in office, including John Warren for Governor. Elizabeth LaFleur/STAFF

Dean Martin walked to the polls from his home. “I think it’s important for us to represent who we want to come in office,” Martin said of his decision to vote Tuesday, June 12, 2018, at the Devenger Road Presbyterian Church. Elizabeth LaFleur/STAFF

Lines at times stretched for an hour, though the site was able to continue to operate. Issues at Taylors have been resolved, though it has six operating voting machines now instead of eight, he said.

In addition, a number of voters reported cases where poll workers brought up incorrect ballots, he said.

In some instances, voters had already cast their ballots before election officials realized poll workers had given the incorrect ballot, he said. It wasn’t an issue of receiving the wrong party’s ballot, but of receiving a ballot that may have had different Republican primary races that may have been out of the voter’s precinct, he said.

Those ballots were cast and would be counted because once the votes were placed, they were secret and couldn’t be deciphered or redone, he said.

12:40 p.m.

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Dori Stuart of Greenville, who was voting at League Academy, said that after comparing Democratic candidates, she voted for James Smith.
Stuart also voted for Eric Graben, calling him an “upstanding guy.” She also based her vote on “who the Republicans dissed.”(Photo: Liv Osby/STAFF)

There was no wait to vote at League Academy, where poll clerk Tamekia Duncan said turnout was steady.

By noon, about 225 people had voted, or about 13 percent of the precinct, she said.

Dori Stuart of Greenville, who was voting at League Academy, said that after comparing Democratic candidates, she voted for James Smith.

She said she is opposed to a Donald Trump agenda, is for women’s rights and would rather see Planned Parenthood funded “than roads in North Korea.”

Stuart also voted for Eric Graben, calling him an “upstanding guy.” She also based her vote on “who the Republicans dissed.”

In what may be an indicator of the mood of voters in traditionally red state South Carolina, people who chose to vote absentee in the Democratic primary outpaced those who voted early in the Republican primary, according to data provided by the South Carolina Election Commission.

Ahead of Tuesday’s primaries, 28,416 voters cast an absentee ballot in the Democratic primary compared to 26,599 who chose to vote in the Republican primary. While both of those numbers top the 2014 primaries (the last non-presidential election cycle), the number of early voters in the Democrat primary grew 81.9 percent while the number of Republican voters rose 12.7 percent.

Nowhere in the state was that number more stark than in Greenville, which saw the number of early-voting Democrats increase 670 percent over 2014, 1,521 voters versus 227.

"This is just the beginning of the good things that happen when we put candidates up across the state," said state Democratic Party Chairman Trav Robertson. "Competitive primaries for governor, Congress, and the Statehouse are turning our folks out. These early vote numbers are just one small piece of the larger puzzle, but the days of the Republican culture of corruption are numbered if we can build on these results.”

In 2014, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Vincent Sheheen was on his way to handily winning the nomination, while state Sen. Brad Hutto easily defeated one Democratic challenger on his way to the nomination in the U.S. Senate race against eventual winner Lindsey Graham.

10:55 a.m.

Taylors Elementary voting machine issues continue

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Renita Douglas said she waited an hour to vote at Taylors Elementary School in Tuesday's primaries after most voting machines went down.(Photo: Liv Osby/STAFF)

The line at Taylors Elementary has ballooned to at least 30 people as just two of the eight voting machines on site are working.

Renita Douglas said it took her an hour to vote at Taylors Elementary for Catherine Templeton for governor and William Timmons in the 4th District Congressional race.

Election officials just delivered at least four new machines but poll workers barred a reporter from access to the gymnasium to observe the situation.

10:25 a.m.

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A line stretched down the hallway at Taylors Elementary voting precinct as technical issues limited the number of working voting machines on Tuesday.(Photo: Liv Osby/STAFF)

Technical issues continue to plague the voting process at Taylors Elementary this morning after the precinct was limited to one machine earlier.

They now have two open machines, according to one voter, but a line stretched down the hallway and voters had to wait about 30 minutes to cast their ballot. The school was also hosting two voting precincts for the primaries.

One voter racing to get to work said she'd waited almost an hour to cast her ballot. Two other voters walked up, saw the line and left, saying they'd try again later.

Jim Stahl of Taylors said it took him about half an hour to cast his vote at Taylors Elementary.

Stahl said he voted for Catherine Templeton for governor because he likes what she stands for and what she says she’s going to do.

He voted for Dan Hamilton for Congress adding that he is upset with taxes and the condition of the roads.

“I knew something about him,” he said. “He’s local and operates a realty business and I like what he says.”

10:15 a.m.

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Ebony Austin with her sons Eli, 11, and L.J., 9, voted at East North Street Academy. So I’m looking for some changes, I’m looking for someone who is going to come in with some fresh ideas and do some things for the people and really help make our state as great as it really is.”(Photo: Lillia Callum-Penso/STAFF)

Ebony Austin of Greenville voted at East North Street Academy Tuesday morning and brought her her sons sons Eli, 11 and L.J., 9.

“It’s more about just having a voice and this is the way that you express yourself,” Austin said. “It is an important election — governor’s race — and although it is primaries and it doesn’t seem important, often times, we as local residents don’t understand how we end up with who we have on the ticket in November, and it’s because we don’t show up in the primaries. So this is important to use my platform to express the importance behind that. So I come out to set an example.”

Austin said she’s concerned about health care, workforce development, education and reform of the prison system.

“I’m looking for some changes,” she said. “I’m looking for someone who is going to come in with some fresh ideas and do some things for the people and really help make our state as great as it really is.”

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Nancy Griffeth voted in the Democrat Primary at East North Street Academy.
“I vote in every single election because it’s so important. You cannot sit back later and say oh look at the mess we’re in if you did not get out and cast a vote."(Photo: Lillia Callum-Penso/STAFF)

Nancy Griffeth, 59, voted in the Democratic primary for Marguerite Willis for governor and Eric Graben in the 4th Congressional District race.

“What impressed me about Marguerite is that she was such a straight shooter,” Griffeth said. “She said, as governor this is what I can do… I know you can’t promise me something today that you’re going to do something and it’s going to get fixed. Even in four years it’s not going to get fixed. I just want you to be honest with me.”

She said her biggest issues are gun control and abortion rights.

“I have a daughter who is a school teacher in Durham and so school safety and reasonable gun control (are issues),” Griffeth said. “And not this all or nothing abortion rights. To me, the one who is most at stake at that is the female having that child. And if somebody gets to choose it should be her and her doctor. It should not be a bunch of men in Columbia or in Washington deciding.”

9:50 a.m.

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Rodney Pillsbury has a message for folks who don’t show up to vote in primary elections. “If you don’t vote, don’t complain. Don’t get on Twitter, Don’t get on Facebook. If you don’t have one of these [I voted] stickers, then be quiet.”(Photo: Elizabeth LaFleur/STAFF)

Rodney Pillsbury has a message for folks who don’t show up to vote in primary elections.

“If you don’t vote, don’t complain," Pillsbury said. "Don’t get on Twitter, Don’t get on Facebook. If you don’t have one of these [I voted] stickers, then be quiet.”

Pillsbury said he voted in the Democratic primary Tuesday because he was more concerned about one candidate on that ballot.

“I figured the GOPs were going to be a run-off between the top two anyway, so that will take care of itself," Pillsbury said.

He voted for James Smith in the Democratic primary for governor.

“He’s by all accounts, just a solid, solid guy, former military, has the right values, kind of where things should be, I think,” Pillsbury said.

About 100 people had voted at Pelham Road Elementary School by 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, according to a poll worker. An estimated 70% of the ballots cast by that time were Republican.

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Steve King is a recent transplant from Batesburg-Leesville, SC. King said he always votes Democrat. James Smith got his vote in the Democratic primary for governor.(Photo: Elizabeth LaFleur/STAFF)

Steve King is a recent transplant from Batesburg-Leesville, SC. King said he always votes Democrat. James Smith got his vote in the democratic primary for governor.

“He seems to be the best democratic candidate with the best chance to win in November,” King said of Smith.

King was particularly impressed by the number of endorsements Smith received from notable Democrats like Rep. James Clyburn.

“It’s important who our leaders are,” King said of voting Tuesday. “The primaries are an important part of that process.”

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Nada Rioux said she always votes when she can. Rioux voted Republican citing loved ones who serve in law enforcement and in the military.(Photo: Elizabeth LaFleur/STAFF)

Nada Rioux said she always votes when she can.

“I showed up today because I believe in this country. My father fought for this country, he earned the purple heart, and I feel like our rights are being taken so quickly, so fast, that if we don’t stand up and let our voices be heard, then it’s just going to die away,” Rioux said.

Rioux voted Republican citing loved ones who serve in law enforcement and in the military.

“I think that their core values stand for what I personally believe in," she said. "I’m not against people who are Democrat, I’m not a prejudiced person, but with everything that’s going on in the world today, with a son in law enforcement and the way he gets treated, it’s really not fair. And it’s not just him. Even if he wasn’t serving, I have a son-in-law that’s a high-ranking officer in the military, so I get it. I want to vote based on their freedoms too.”

9:35 a.m.

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Robert Greene of Greer voted at the Buena Vista Elementary School for Phil Noble for governor because he supports his stand on civil rights and education, among other issues.(Photo: Liv Osby/STAFF)

Robert Greene of Greer voted at the Buena Vista Elementary School for Phil Noble for governor because he supports his stand on civil rights and education, among other issues.

Greene voted for Lee Turner for Congress, saying she is the best candidate.

“I’m voting for Democratic values,” he said. “The Republican Party is a disaster.”

Poll manager Aisha Thomas said turnout was steady at the school, where voters were greeted by candidates Phyllis Henderson and Bobby Cox.

Ten residents were waiting to vote when the polls opened, she said. About 150 people had voted by 9 a.m., or about 5.1 percent of the precinct, Thomas said.

9:20 a.m.

There have been a few snafus to deal with at the polls Tuesday morning, said Conway Belangia, director of Voter Registration and Elections and he was busy fielding calls and finding solutions throughout the morning.

At one precinct - St. Matthew United Methodist Church in Greenville - staff allowed poll workers in the building early to set up, but left the front door locked as polls opened, he said.

9:11 a.m.

Only one voting machine was working at Taylors Elementary School by mid-morning. An alert voter notified the Greenville News about this issue and we asked Belangia about it.

"We are aware of it and we are actively working to fix it," he said. Working machines should be in that precinct soon, he said.

9:05 a.m.

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Debbie Vermillion of Taylors said she voted for John Warren in the Tuesday, June 12, 2018, primary because she felt like he was the right man for the job.(Photo: Elizabeth Anderson/STAFF)

Turnout was low at Brook Glenn Elementary School in Taylors with 27 people voting during the first hour, said clerk Sally Nuss.

That’s about 3 percent of voters in the district, she said.

Only six people were in lined to vote when the doors opened at 7 a.m.

“It’s summertime and kids are out of school so some people are probably coming later, “ she said.

Debbie Vermillion of Taylors said she voted for John Warren for governor because she felt like he was the right man for the job. Among other things, she said she agreed with his stance on the convention of states.

Vermillion also voted for Dan Hamilton for Congress.

“He’s a businessman and godly and I feel like I can trust him to not be corrupt,” she said.

Malinda Peter declined to say who she voted for, but noted she shows up on primary day because it’s the first step to getting people on the ballot.

“If we don’t get them in on the primary, then we won’t be voting for them later,” Peter said. “Primaries matter. You don’t get to high school without going to middle school and elementary school first. You have to take the small steps to get to the top."

Brenda Anderson said voting was quick and easy at Devenger Road Presbyterian Church. She showed up to vote in part because she knew a lot of people on the ballot this time around.

She said she voted Republican and supported candidates Dan Hamilton and Bobby Davis because they’re conservative.

“Their beliefs about abortion and smaller government are important to me," she said.

“It all matters,” Anderson said of primary elections. “In the end, you’ve got to do your part. I like the primaries because this is where I really feel like I get to make my personal choice. When it comes to runoffs, you just get to pick the best of whatever is left.”

Gail Kirby said she loves that she had the right to vote in this country. She always votes in primaries. She showed up Tuesday specifically to support John Warren. Kirby said Warren is good friends with her brother-in-law, but beyond that, she believes in what he stands for.

“He has all the right things to say," Kirby said. "All the things that I believe in, like the right to vote, the right to the second amendment and the right for life.”

Kirby said she was also impressed by candidate Adam Morgan because he came to her house and knocked on her door and spoke with her.

“He acted like he would take 30 minutes to speak with me and he answered a lot of questions I had," she said. "I know that that shouldn’t sway, but it does a little bit. It’s very personal.”

8:30 a.m.

A poll worker at Pelham Road Elementary School said they’d had about 100 voters by 8:30 a.m. He said that’s pretty normal for a small precinct like this one.

7:10 a.m.

The polling site at Plain Elementary School in Simpsonville was hopping by 7 a.m. As one of 11 polling sites in Greenville County that have shifted or combined this Primary Day, a line formed as poll workers scrambled to swiftly keep the stream of voters moving and in the correct lines.

"Anyone voting in the Democrat Primary?" A poll worker asked, beckoning those who were to step forward to a separate check-in spot.

By 7:10 a.m., 19 voters had cast their ballots and a short line had formed as a light rain fell outside.

The busy early turnout at Plain may be reflective of the combined sites. Besides the combined site - with Simpsonville 4 and Standing Springs precincts each voting at Plain - 10 other locations have been moved or combined in Greenville County. Those include Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, Greenville 20 at Augusta Road Baptist Church, Greenville 23 at Sara Collins Elementary School, Feaster at Rolling Green Retirement Center, Maridell at Tigerville Elementary School, Mission at Pelham Road Elementary School, Simpsonville 3 at First Presbyterian Church in Simpsonville, Stonehaven at Woodruff Road Christian Church, and Stone Valley at Taylors Elementary School.

Voters in each of those precincts have been notified by mail about the new locations, according to Conway Belangia, director of the Greenville County Board of Voters Registration and Elections.

Dean Martin walked to the polls from his home. “I think it’s important for us to represent who we want to come in office,” Martin said of his decision to vote Tuesday, June 12, 2018, at the Devenger Road Presbyterian Church.(Photo: Elizabeth LaFleur/STAFF)

Seven people were lined up outside of Devenger Road Presbyterian Church before 7 a.m. the first in line arrived at 6:40.

Dean Martin walked to the polls from his home. “I think it’s important for us to represent who we want to come in office,” Martin said of his decision to vote Tuesday. He voted for John Warren, a man he used to work with and calls honest and the right man for the job.

“I’m here to clean out. Start fresh,” said Donald Dietz. Dietz carries a folded slip of paper with the names of candidates for whom he voted, all would be new in office, including John Warren for Governor.

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Donald Dietz carries a folded slip of paper with the names of candidates for whom he voted at the Devenger Road Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, June 12, 2018. All would be new in office, including John Warren for Governor.(Photo: Elizabeth LaFleur/STAFF)